Re: CULT: weather

Well, Barb, I don't know what to tell you.
It's a first for me, too -- at least seeing so many of the center
leaves falling that it's really noticeable. The center leaf, of course, is
the growth leaf. I'm inclined to just leave them alone until and unless
they begin to shrivel. Then, I'd probably trim them, but only enough to
eliminate the droop.

I've never encountered a tulip that smelled
"yucky". Maybe it's just a matter of different tastes. What I
have found is that many people are surprised to learn that tulips have
any fragrance. What I don't find is the variety (and in some
cases near-absence) of fragrances that iris possess. Tulips seem to
me to have nearly identical fragrance, some stronger and some fainter. I'm
afraid I can't tell you their names, except for Red Emperor. They've been
in the garden so long that I have forgotten them. But that brings up
another facet of tulipness: Some folks contend that tulips must be
replenished every year or two, because they dwindle away. Well, not
here. Here, they make larger and larger clumps, year by year in good
garden soil. I'll grant that some varieties proliferate more than
others, and some may eventually play out, but that's true with our irises,
also. -- Griff

I planted a package of 100 small crocus bulbs
around one of the ash trees a few years back, and I too have found that the
yellows bloom first. In fact, there was only one purple left in the batch that
bloomed this year; the rest were gold. The batch of gold crocuses planted two
winters ago in the bulb bed were spectacular. I am trying to resize the
crocus pic but still can't get it small enuf.

Not too many SDBs have bloomed yet so I'm hoping
to see more bloom from the Front Bed. My Marksman seedlings in the Front Bed
were blooming, 3 of them, and they are all yellow! So far no oranges or other
colors. They have double stalks on a rhizome, tho, and 2 blooms each stalk. I
know that isn't very good but it's fun to see them.

My iris fans are on the ground too. Will they
recover, or should we cut them after awhile?

I had another question too. Does anyone know if
incipient buds from irises that are *supposed* to bloom in May are still okay,
or did they freeze with the foliage?

I guess I'll just wait and see what blooms and
what doesn't. On top of the ice storm we had in January this is just sad. I
was hoping to put more labels on things that didn't bloom last year but
supposedly would this year. It's hit you hybridizers worse tho with
seedlings you hoped to see. My seedling pots are fine because they're all 2
years old. I *was* going to plant them out April first, now I'm glad I waited!
I had four more seedlings sprout last week so I did bring them in.

Lucky you to have perfumed tulips! What are their
names? Mine all smell yucky but are gorgeous. Right now they are all on the
ground, but I'll go out and see if I can cut some more and bring them in. Last
night it was 19 again. I think we broke the record three nights in a row, and
one day we broke the low high record as well.

Skim ice again this morning, which is better
than the hard freeze of day before yesterday. Upper 20s forecast
for tonight, and supposedly that's the last of it. The center leaves on many
TB fans have been hit hard, bent to the ground. It's particularly
alarming on the first-year seedlings which as yet have no increase.
The SDBs are pushing right ahead, despite the nightly freezes, and several
are showing color -- almost all yellows. It seems to me
that nature's yellows are generally the first to bloom, whether it's irises
or other species. Is that anyone else's experience?

The SDBs show no apparent damage thus
far. It's harder to judge about the new sprouts in the
seedling pots. I guess the coming week will tell.

Meanwhile, the tulips in the garden have
fared well, and a bouquet cut just before the freezes hit has been perfuming
the house. -- Griff

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